Car damage leads to burglary arrest

November 13, 2011|South Bend Tribune Staff Report

SOUTH BEND -- Two men are in custody in connection with a "smash and grab" burglary that took place at the Phillips 66 service station at Sample and Main streets, South Bend. The incident took place around 3 a.m. Thursday, according to police reports.

Police said the two men drove a car through the front door of the service station and then proceeded to take cigarettes and synthetic marijuana. Store security tapes captured the incident, according to police.

Police got a break when a woman, the girlfriend of one of the suspects, attempted to make an accident report. Police noticed that her car matched the description of the vehicle used in the burglary, and that the car's damage was similar to the damage to the car used in the theft.

Police questioned the woman and learned that her boyfriend and another man used the vehicle. Police said they went to the woman's home where they discovered evidence from the burglary.

Several hours later, Detective Anthony Pacheco spotted two men matching the description of the suspects walking on North Michigan Street. The two men, ages 28 and 21, were questioned and later confessed, according to police.